How gay-friendly is Columbus, OH

[mnhtnbb]

as a place to live?

My son's roommate has just informed him he's planning to move to Columbus, OH in May. He's told him that Columbus is the "San Francisco" of the midwest! I have NEVER (54 years) heard that.


Thanks for your comments, DU

[serryjw]

1. Two opinions

but Ohio has terrible economy. I can't believe how many Ohioans I have met in Denver in the last few months.

COLUMBUS, OHIO
At http://www.outlooknews.com/show_article.php?id=3854 is mentioned
Columbus, Ohio, as being reported in Out Magazine:
"Columbus, and the other major cities in Ohio, save Cincy, are
supposed to be tolerant environments for gay folks to live, work and
play. Columbus has even been written up in Out Magazine as one of the
10 best gay places to live in the Midwest."

COLOMBUS, OHIO - somewhat differing view:
"But if Columbus is one of the best places to be gay, why does it have
also have the country's fifth highest rate of hate crime violence
against the gay community? And what does the rapid repeal of the
city's domestic partners ordinance--an important issue to many in the
gay community--say about the acceptance of gays in Columbus? While
Columbus may be a great place for gays to live, especially compared to
other cities in the midwest, it's also clear that the gay and straight
communities here still have a lot of work to do before tolerance and
acceptance finally win out over hatred."
http://www.columbusalive.com/1999/19990218/feature.html

[mnhtnbb]

2. Links don't work

Do you have others?

[keithkam]

3. Definitely gay-friendly for the most part.

Columbus is certainly gay-friendly and gays here face difficulties just like those in any other large city. In Ohio we have some of the most theocratic Republican loons introducing bills like banning gay adoption and outlawing abortion without exceptions. On the upside th gay doption ban doesn't look it has a chance making it on the ballot this fall and on another item that boosts the state image is the fact intelligent design was recently voted out. It is all because of political apathy and not enough people do anything about these them. If Blackwell gets elected, I don't know what I'll do. Downtown and the surrounding areas like the Short North (hip and artsy), German Village (historic) are known for their gay population, and Clintonville north of OSU has the largest lesbian presence. There is a large gay presence all around the central areas, but this is where most anti-gay incidents occur, if I'm not mistaken. The suburbs are very conservative, but you don't hear anything about anti-gay incidents there (probably because most gay people leave the dull suburbs for urban life). In the city you just have to use common sense to minimize the risk of any danger and that goes for anyone, gay or straight. We do have a huge gay pride parade with I think over 100,000 people attending last year's event. I'm not surprised you didn't hear about this aspect of Columbus, but that is because you never really hear anything about Columbus. Columbus is a nice city, but it has an image problem. That being it doesn't really have one.

[mnhtnbb]

4. Thanks for info!

[keithkam]

5. For more info...

Try asking at
http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php

[mnhtnbb]

6. THANKS!

[Obamarama]

7. My partner and I have good friends in Columbus....

We've been visiting them for 17 years. Columbus is an okay city, althought I don't know if it's quite the "SF of the midwest." The urban scene strikes me as very artsy in a cool, hip sort of way. Several galleries, experimental theatre, etc... The "Short North" and "German Village" areas are home to large gay and lesbian populations. I like the mix of alternitives when it comes to opportunites in the social scene. There are two bars we enjoy going to with our friends: Union Station and Havana. Union Station is laidback, casual, more of a bar/restaurant place. Definitely not a meat market - someplace to grab a burger and beer and relax with friends. Havana is more of a nightspot, but it's a video bar, sans dance floor. It also strikes me as more of a place you go with someone rather than to meet someone.

Our friends are partners and live in the affluent Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington, which tends to be home to more than a few wealthy Resmuglicans. Upper Arlington is the city that was in the news recently for wanting to ban gay books and publications from its public library. Despite the decidedly conservative bent in Upper Arlington, our friends have lived as a couple in a typical suburban neighborhood for 23 years and have never had any problems.

It would seem that the city and its metropolitan area is at the very least tolerant.